Playing with the Explore Air

Just a quick post today showcasing some cards that I cut on my new Cricut Expression machine.  I have been playing with settings, images, free projects, pens, etc. for the past 4 or 5 days. It is certainly an amazing machine and I haven't nearly explored all of it's possibilities.

Right now, I'm on the low end of the learning scale, and it's been a little bit fun and a tad frustrating. Thankfully, there are many tips, tricks and tutorials on Youtube and on the Cricut site. I'm slowly going through them to learn as much as I can.

Although I love this new machine,it will probably never take over my love of stamps and the smell of ink. I still love my card making supplies and creating with them, but it certainly takes my crafting to another level.

The teeth on the saw are are amazing.

The telephone cards below were done using one of my free projects. The phone cord and the hello are sketched first, then the machine blade cuts the phone. It's great having the dual carriage. No changing out the blade for the pen to complete the project.

Felt Blue metallic marker

 Midnight fine line marker

Felt Silver Metallic Marker.  I think this card is my favorite.

Felt Violet Metallic Marker

Felt Copper Metallic  marker

That's about it for today. I hope you have a wonderful day and are able to do something CRAFTY!

Hugs,
BernieBee

Happy Easter / Cricut Explore Air / MOJO#390

MOJO #390

 

Today's card design is one that I will be using for Easter Cards for my younger grandchildren. Minus the bows for the 3 little guys. :0)

I have been laboring over this card for almost a week. I knew what images I was going to use, paper, and sketch, but just couldn't get my "mojo" in gear to put it together. I'm just as glad I didn't. 

As an early birthday gift, my husband bought me a Cricut Explore Air. I'm excited to say the least. This is the 3rd. Cricut I have owned, and I must say, WOW. The machine has come a long way since I received the Original Cricut for a Mother's Day gift years ago (maybe 8?).

There seems to be a lot of chatter on the net. Both Pro's and Con's regarding this machine. I've read through some, but have not worked with the machine enough at this point, to give my opinion. I worked with it some last night and for several hours today, just trying different weight papers and images. 

I'm still learning the in's and out's of the Cricut Design Space. I do have to say, at this point, I feel Cricut Craft Room was a little easier for me, but I'll give the new program some time.  Thankfully, there is a plethora of info and videos on the web to lessen the learning curve.

Mine was bought at Micheal's @ $30 off plus, a Lia Griffith Bundle, and a free month subscription to the Cricut Image Library. I have looked at the library, and I must say, it's huge! I can't imagine being able to use half of the content.

The picture below was another reason I didn't get this card done until today. One of my first cuts using the Explore was Create a Critter lamb. I had seen on the internet that the Explore cut cleaner then my Expression,but of course,I had to do my own test.

Even though the images look different sizes, they were not. I'm not sure why that occurred. Weird...

Can you notice the difference? I was somewhat amazed. Not a lot of difference, but the Explore image is definitely more precise. Larger, rounder eyes, more oval nose, crisper mouth, and more definition in in the leg region. So,I was back to re-cutting images for my 6 cards!

That's about it for this evening.I do hope you have a wonderful one and are able to do something CRAFTY!

Hugs,
BernieBee 

*The paper,stamp,EF,button and twine are all SU products.

I Just Wanted to Say / FMS#178/ctd334

Just another quick post for today. One busy day with doctors and labs. Glad those are over!

I saw the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches and the color combo from Color Throwdown and had a card immediately in mind. That doesn't happen to often, but I'm glad it did. 

 

 

 

 

This card will be sent to my 7 yr. old granddaughter, Esther. I have some little surprises to send along to her and thought a card was in order to send along with it.

 

 

The inside

Some things inquiring minds might want to know:

SU Whisper White, Night of Navy, Tangerine Tango,Melon Mambo

SU Ink: Night of Navy

SU Paper Pumpkin Stamp, Really Good Greetings (only partially colored with Stampin'Write Marker)

Su Owl Punch

Large Polka Dot EF

Banners Framelit Dies

Signo Pen - White for center of owls eyes

Have a wonderful weekend and why not stop by the challenge sites and, either participate or look around.  There are some amazing card makers out there.

Stay CRAFTY my friends!

Hugs,

BernieBee

Happy Birthday / MOJO#389

Hi there!Just finished this card and thought I would post it today.I have another one swirling around in my head for another challenge, so I wanted to make sure I had this one linked to the MOJO#389 sketch challenge.

  
I'm continuing to use the Sale-a-Bration freebies.The DSP and the stamp. I really like this DSP. The colors are bright, but soft if that makes sense!

Things inquiring minds want to know:
 
SU Paper Best Year Ever DSP, Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral

SU Ink Soft Suede, Coastal Cabana

SU Stamp Set Butterfly Basics,Big Day Stamp, Gorgeous Grunge 

SU EF Stylish Stripes
Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons,Neutrals Candy Dots
AND LOTS of Foam Tape!

That's about it for now. I'm off to the Studio. Let's see if I actually can get another card created and posted for tomorrow.;0)

Have a wonderful evening and I hope you can do something CRAFTY!

Hugs,
BernieBee

So Happy for You /Sweet Sunday #260

I've been wanting to use 2 of my FREE Sale-a-bration products, You Brighten My Day and Best Year Ever DSP for several weeks, but just couldn't seem to find my mojo. Well, that changed on Sunday! When I saw Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge everything just came together.

I recently ordered the What's Up punch that coordinates with the You Brighten My Day little house. So cute! I hadn't created any new home cards recently and thought this stamp / punch would be perfect fit. 

Some things you might want to know

SU cardstock, Coastal Cabana,Crushed Curry,Calypso Coral, Whisper White, SAB DSP
SU  Stamps, You Brighten My Day, Simply Wonderful 
SU ink Calypso Coral
Zig Zag SU embossing folder 
Project Life Cards and Labels Die 

That's it for today. Make it a wonderful Tuesday and go do something CRAFTY!

Hugs,
BernieBee

I'm Here for You / Paper Players #236 /Case this Sketch#114

Happy Monday! I pray you all had a wonderful weekend and were able to do something crafty. 

I  had a chance to work in my studio and put together a card using a technique that I haven't used in several years, Masking Faux Layers.  I learned this from Linda over at Stamping School when I first became a demonstrator. It is so simple and adds such a nice element to your projects.

The stamp set I used, Blooming with Kindness, is still one of my favorites.  I love the big flower and the sentiments.  I really should use it more often.

I decided to link it to The Paper Players and CASe this Sketch today. I believe it fulfills both challenges.

Some things you may want to know:

SU Blooming with Kindness
SU Lost Lagoon, Crumcake, Very Vanilla card stock
Lost Lagoon,Crumbcake, Memento Black
Basic Pearls
SU Stampin' Dimensionals

Make it a great Monday and,as always, do something CRAFTY!

Hugs,
BernieBee

Like You a Latte/ FMS177/cQc #283

The inside, bottem edge has little coffee beans stamped on it.

Just a quick and simple card today that will be linking to two challenges. The colourQ #283 color challenge was well, a challenge, although I think I managed to use the colors in the right proportion. 
The sketch by Freshly Made Sketches #177 was fun and one I will keep my sketch folder to use again.

Some things you might want to know:

Stamp: unknown
Papers:SU Old Olive, Kraft, Basic Black, Whisper White, Basic Grey
Cuttlebug EF
Decorative Dots EF
Project Life Cards and Labels die
Black Pearls- unknown

I hope you make it a great Friday, enjoy your weekend and do something CRAFTY.

Hugs,
BernieBee

Mojo388/ctd#333 Birthday Card

Now this is a very unusual occurrence. Two cards posted in ONE day! Today my mojo was just working and I was able to get this card finished earlier then I thought I would. I will be linking the completed card to the  MOJO 388 challenge combined with Color Throwdown #333 .

Yes, I know, another butterfly and more purple. I did mention I loved this new die and the color purple. I couldn't help myself and besides, the colors were part of the ctd color challenge. ;0)

After taking some time deciding on a background for this card, my final decision was just to go with the Coordination's paper without embossing or sanding it. It has just enough texture to add interest and keep it simple. The green in the photo is showing up much darker then it is. It's actually Pear Pizzazz, which is a softer green then what appears in the photo.  

Some things you might want to know:
I used the Naturals White card stock again and the Butterfly Basics stamp with matching Thinlits. The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes  stamped with Pear Pizzazz ink added to a 1 3/8" circle and pierced using the circle in the Essentials pack.

That's about it.  I do have paper and stamps laying on my desk calling my name. Gosh, I might even get another card done and posted.  Well maybe created, but I doubt posted until probably tomorrow.

Make it a wonderful Thursday evening and I hope you can do something CRAFTY...

Hugs,
BernieBee

Butterfly Basics Birthday

Alright, I don't know why I waited so long to order this stamp set, Butterfly Basics with matching thinlits. It is absolutely gorgeous! The butterfly's are so beautifully intricate and as long as you have the right "sandwich" to cut them, they come out perfect each time.

I perused the internet looking for inspiration, and believe me, there is a plethora of it! In my opinion, even if you don't order the framelits, this set is just so versatile. 

For my card base I used Perfect Plum. I guess people are correct saying when you get old you LOVE purple! It wasn't a go to color until a year or two ago.  I actually have to stay away from it or all my cards would be in the purple family!

I stamped all the images in Soft Suede, except the sentiment in Black Momento, the small butterfly's in Perfect Plum, and the leaves in Mossy Meadow on Naturals White card stock. 

To add some depth, I pulled out my retired SU Spritzer and Perfect Plum Stampin Write Marker and spritzed the background. Love that technique. As long as you don't hold the spritzer to close to the paper, which will cause blobs, it produces a nice spray.

As I mentioned above,  the right sandwich is necessary to get clean cuts with the framelits. I found that SU demo, Patty Bennett's suggestions worked best for me. There are other YouTube videos by other demos that are slightly different and you might find work better in your Big Shot. It's trial and error since each Big Shot is calibrated a little differently.

This is the sandwich I used
Bottom Plate ( I used my magnetic plate) 
One dryer sheet, opened(As others suggested, the Dollar Store ones work great)
Card stock
Thinlit
Wax paper
Top Plate
My cuts came out perfect each time. 

That's about it for today. I'm off to my Craft Studio here in a bit. I hope you have a blessed Thursday and can do something CRAFTY!

Hugs,
BernieBee

Seize the Cake / MOJO#387/Seize the Birthday

Today's card is a birthday card for one of my special son-in-laws. With 7 children, 3 daughter-in-laws, 3 son-in-laws, and 8 grandchildren, I'm ALWAYS in need of Birthday cards!
I'll be linking this card over at MojoMonday#387 and Seize the Birthday this week.

What a fun sketch. I'll be putting this into my sketch folder to use again.

The fun layering on top of the sentiment was something I was just introduced to by Melissa Phillips over at Make it Monday (Papertryink) which she referred to as, "Anchoring with Border and Banner Dies". I never thought of doing this, but love it and something I'll try again.

Some stuff you might want to know:
Something to Say stamp set-SU

Whisper White, Tangelo Twist, Night of Navy, Crushed Curry papers-SU
Birthday Bash DSP
Night of Navy Ink
1 3/8" Circle Punch
Starburst framelit
Bitty Banners 
Envelope Liners
EKsuccess Chevron punch
Perfect Polka Dots, On Point EF
Project Life corner rounder
Polka dot stamp (Paper Pumpkin)

That's about it for today. I need to get some cookies made for our Home Group that meets at our house tonight. What a fun bunch of people! I love and appreciate each of them so much and glad they are part of our lives. :0)

I hope you can get to do something CRAFTY today, my 
friends!

Hug,
BernieBee